Delaware GK-12 Project Activity Summary A partnership between the University of Delaware and the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District Funded by National Science Foundation Graduate Teaching Fellows Program in K-12 Education (GK-12) DGE Graduate Teaching Fellows Program in K-12 Education

Teacher/Fellow Pair Mr. Thomas Madura University of Delaware Department of Physics & Astronomy Mr. Ronney Bythwood Howard High School of Technology Physics & Physical Science Teacher

Physics Day at Six Flags Great Adventure Took Mr. Bythwood’s 12 th grade Physics class (23 students). Trip was April 27, 2007; at park ~ 6 hours. Funded by GK-12 and students. It rained all day!

Why do Amusement Park Physics? Provides a unique setting to facilitate student learning –Students can verify validity of formulas, can see for themselves. –Students experience effects that are “counter-intuitive”. –Helps students develop experimental techniques (does answer make sense). –Offers real-world experiences that help students’ perceptions of the laws of physics. –Allows for development of interesting activities, labs, and transfer tasks.

Workbooks –Designed as either a review or teaching tool for average 1 st year physics students. –Easily modified for different types of students. –Contains important equations, diagrams, and measurements for a large variety of rides. Force meters and protractors –Allow for measurement of g-forces experienced on rides. –Allow for measurement of angles on rides dealing with circular motion. Tools Students Use to Learn

What the Students Learn Kinematics –Distance, speed, acceleration, etc. Forces –Newton’s laws, weight, g-force, centripetal force, vector diagrams Energy –Potential, kinetic, conservation of, etc. Circular Motion Work and Power Impulse and Momentum

Examples: Great American Scream Machine and Nitro

Example: Flying Wave

Conclusions Trip was a success despite the rain. Post-trip interviews show that students make connection between physics and real-world. Pre-trip and workbook activities make great PBL and transfer task problems. Definitely worth doing again with future classes. Already have many ideas for future improvement (alternate dates, new parks, student designed activities, presentations, etc.)

Thank You